Find out how popular the last name Mahi is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mahi.
An Indian surname derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "great" or "mighty".
Mahi, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Mahi surname is from the 2010 census data.
Mahi is the 53913th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Mahi surname appeared 383 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Mahi.
We can also compare 2010 data for Mahi to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 53913 | 67317 | -22.11% |
Count | 383 | 274 | 33.18% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.10 | 26.09% |
The surname MAHI is believed to have originated in India, particularly in the northern regions. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'mahi,' meaning 'earth' or 'land.' The name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th-13th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname MAHI can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts, where it was often used to refer to landowners or individuals with a connection to the earth or agriculture. The name was particularly prevalent in regions like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
During the Mughal era, the MAHI surname gained prominence, and several notable figures bearing this name emerged. One such individual was Malik Mahi, a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. He was known for his bravery and strategic skills in various campaigns.
Another prominent figure with the surname MAHI was Mirzā Mahi, a 17th-century poet and scholar who was part of the royal court of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. His literary works, particularly in Persian and Urdu, were highly regarded during his time.
In the 18th century, a notable MAHI figure was Raja Mahi Singh, a powerful ruler of the princely state of Alwar in Rajasthan. He played a significant role in the region's political landscape and is remembered for his administrative reforms and patronage of the arts.
Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Mahi Lal, a renowned educationist and social reformer from Uttar Pradesh. He was instrumental in establishing several schools and advocating for the upliftment of marginalized communities.
The MAHI surname has also been associated with various place names and villages across northern India, such as Mahi Khera, Mahi Nagar, and Mahi Pura, among others. These place names often derived from the presence of MAHI families or individuals who settled in those areas.
Throughout its history, the MAHI surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, warriors, poets, rulers, and social reformers. While its roots can be traced back to medieval India, the name continues to hold significance and cultural significance in various parts of the country today.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mahi.
The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mahi was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 14.62% | 56 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 5.22% | 20 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 50.13% | 192 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.57% | 6 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 23.50% | 90 |
Hispanic Origin | 4.96% | 19 |
Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.
Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mahi has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 14.62% | 13.14% | 10.66% |
Black | 5.22% | 2.19% | 81.78% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | 50.13% | 59.85% | -17.68% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.57% | 0.00% | 200.00% |
Two or More Races | 23.50% | 17.15% | 31.24% |
Hispanic | 4.96% | 7.66% | -42.79% |
The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.
The history and meaning of the name Mahi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mahi, please contact us.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/mahi-surname-popularity/">Mahi last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Mahi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 30, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/mahi-surname-popularity/.
"Mahi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/mahi-surname-popularity/. Accessed 30 April, 2025
Mahi last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/mahi-surname-popularity/.
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